159 episodes

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know … and then keeps on going. Host Noam Hassenfeld and an all-star team of reporters — Byrd Pinkerton, Meradith Hoddinott, and Mandy Nguyen — tackle scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn by diving into the unknown. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Unexplainable Vox Media Podcast Network

    • Science
    • 4.8 • 53 Ratings

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know … and then keeps on going. Host Noam Hassenfeld and an all-star team of reporters — Byrd Pinkerton, Meradith Hoddinott, and Mandy Nguyen — tackle scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn by diving into the unknown. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

    Do we live inside an enormous black hole?

    Do we live inside an enormous black hole?

    It’s possible that the entire observable universe is inside a black hole. All we need to do to find out is … build a gigantic particle collider around the moon.
    Guest: James Beacham, particle physicist at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 25 min
    Is good posture actually good?

    Is good posture actually good?

    Send this episode to the person who constantly hounds you not to slouch.
    Guest: Beth Linker, author of “Slouch: Posture Panic in Modern America”
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 21 min
    Why do we yawn?

    Why do we yawn?

    People yawn when they’re bored, right? So then why do athletes yawn before races? And why do so many animals yawn? … And why does reading this paragraph make you more likely to yawn? (Updated from 2022)
    Guest: Dr. Andrew Gallup
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 36 min
    Embracing economic chaos

    Embracing economic chaos

    Can a physicist predict our messy economy by building an enormous simulation of the entire world?
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 26 min
    We still don’t really know how inflation works

    We still don’t really know how inflation works

    Inflation is one of the most significant issues shaping the 2024 election. But how much can we actually do to control it?
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Please take a second to help us learn more about you! vox.com/podcastsurvey
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 30 min
    Can you put a price on nature?

    Can you put a price on nature?

    It’s hard to figure out the economic value of a wild bat or any other part of the natural world, but some scientists argue that this kind of calculation could help protect our environment.
    For show transcripts, go to vox.com/unxtranscripts
    For more, go to vox.com/unexplainable
    And please email us! unexplainable@vox.com
    We read every email.
    Support Unexplainable by becoming a Vox Member today: vox.com/members
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
53 Ratings

53 Ratings

GoodHunter27 ,

Hooked!!

Probably one of my favourite podcasts! The topics being discussed are so interesting and span across different fields… great presentation and sound.

Tom Madison18 ,

It’s good

I like it

ZeroChillPhil ,

This show is a masterclass on podcasts

Vos Media podcasts are generally very well produced, and thoroughly researched and just immensely enjoyable. However, in my opinion, Unexplainable is in a different stratosphere all together. The subject matter for each episode is extremely fascinating! Especially, the ongoing ‘Lost World’ series - the sound design in this one makes it cinematic!
Thank you, Vox, for always creating top notch quality podcasts!

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